The Round 6 match between Argentina and Denmark rated to be solid. Both teams were still in contention for a semifinal berth. Denmark, lying third, was better placed than Argentina, which was sixth. The first major blow to Argentina came on Board 6 when they reached into their convention bag of tricks and came out with an explosive instead of a toy.

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª A J 10 8 6 © J 10 8 4 ¨ 9 2 § A J ª 9 7 5 ª K 4 3 2 © Q © A 9 5 3 2 ¨ A Q 7 5 4 ¨ 10 6 § 10 5 3 2 § Q 8 ª Q © K 7 6 ¨ K J 8 3 § K 9 7 6 4

With the unfavorable vulnerability the Argentines went for too many undertricks . They were minus 800 which gave the Danes +400 on the deal. Board 7 had the potential of a swing either way, depending on who right-sided the notrump game.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª Q 6 2 © Q 10 5 ¨ 9 3 2 § K 9 6 3 ª A J 7 ª 9 4 3 © 9 8 4 3 © A K 6 ¨ 8 6 5 ¨ A K Q J 10 4 § Q 8 7 § J ª K 10 8 5 © J 7 2 ¨ 7 § A 10 5 4 2

Each room had its way of showing values, the Closed Room with the diamond bid and the Open Room with the notrump. It's a good thing they didn't bid the game in the latter. They were going to go down on a natural club lead from North. This swing of 10 IMPs went to the Argentines. How do you get to play at the four-level in hearts and prevent your opponents from going to 4ª, which is a make? Konow found the answer on Board 8.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All ª A J © 10 8 7 ¨ J 10 8 6 § A K 9 3 ª K 8 7 ª 10 5 © A J 9 6 4 2 © K Q 5 3 ¨ K 4 3 ¨ Q 9 7 § 8 § 7 6 5 2 ª Q 9 6 4 3 2 © — ¨ A 5 2 § Q J 10 4

Oddly a 3¨ bid in each room worked to the Danish advantage. In the Closed room Konow wanted to try to buy the hand so he made a game try. His game was doubled and he went down two, but he still gained 4 IMPs for his side.

In the other room the 3¨ call meant that Pugliese had to bid his spades at the three-level, showing more than five in the suit. This let his partner, Ravenna, raise to game with his two honors. Ravenna made his game with an overtrick.

How high do you want to get with a hand that contains an eight-card suit headed by the A-Q, two side aces and your partner opens the bidding? At the very least you would be in game. This was true all over the room on Board 13. The only ones with pluses on this board were the defenders. One pair got to 16 hearts (4©XX) and another got to 12 hearts (6©x).

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª 10 6 © K ¨ K Q 3 2 § K Q 10 9 7 2 ª A K 4 ª Q J 9 3 2 © J 10 9 5 © — ¨ J 10 5 4 ¨ 9 8 7 6 § J 8 § 6 5 4 3 ª 8 7 5 © A Q 8 7 6 4 3 2 ¨ A § A

Everyone went down on the lead of spade, spade, spade, promoting two trump tricks instead of one. Board 18 was another strange one.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª K Q J © K 7 6 3 2 ¨ Q J 8 7 6 § — ª A 10 8 7 3 2 ª 5 © — © A 10 9 8 4 ¨ A K 10 3 2 ¨ — § 5 3 § K 10 9 8 7 6 4 ª 9 6 4 © Q J 5 ¨ 9 5 4 § A Q J 2

That East hand sure looks like a player. In the Open Room Madsen not only opened 1§, but he bid hearts on his next turn. He and his partner collected a 500-point penalty when the opponents bid to the three-level in his second suit. In the other room the Argentines had a power auction to get to 4ª which was set two tricks undoubled. 12 IMPs to Denmark. On the last board Madala and Argerich got too high when Madala opened a nebulous diamond.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All ª 5 © Q 2 ¨ A J 10 9 6 3 § J 10 7 3 ª A 4 2 ª K Q J 8 6 3 © 9 8 6 © A 3 ¨ Q 8 4 ¨ K 2 § A 9 8 2 § K Q 6 ª 10 9 7 © K J 10 7 5 4 ¨ 7 5 § 5 4

This contract did have play possibilities. If the clubs split, the slam was home, but this was not the day that Dame Fortune was smiling on our southern neighbors. The Danes stopped in game in the other room game, making five for a 13-IMP pickup.

Denmark won the match, 25-5.